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(iii) There will be no change in the role and composition of the Regional Council.
(c) The Presidency of the Legislative Council
The Governor will continue to be the president of the Legislative Council for the immediate future.
(d) Practical aspects of elections
(i) The sequence of elections will be changed so that elections to the District Boards, the Municipal Councils and the Legislative Council are held in that order.
(ii) The age of entitlement to vote and of eligibility for office will remain at 21.
(iii) A preferential elimination system of voting (as described in the Green Paper) will be adopted in this year's Legislative Council elections.
(iv) The limits on election expenses will be reviewed regularly.
These relatively minor changes fully reflect the broad consensus of opinion which has emerged on these matters in the course of last year's public consultation exercise in Hong Kong. They are in line with our own strategy for the steady and gradual development of representative government in Hong Kong. The Foreign Secretary believes that it is right that the Hong Kong Government should proceed in this way.
I am copying this letter to the Private Secretaries of members of OD (K) and to Sir Robin Butler.
bours for
(R N Culshaw)
Private Secretary
C D Powell Esq
PS/NO 10 Downing Street
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